Our four course, eight string, Greek Bouzouki is a beautiful instrument with a rich history. The fingering is the same as the higher four strings on a guitar, and the same as the fingering on a ukulele. The tuning, however, is different, the recommended being Cc Ff aa dd.

The Roosebeck Bouzouki has a European spruce soundboard, rosewood fingerboard, and mahogony neck. The soundboard, fingerboard, and headstock have beautifully designed custom lacewood inlays. The bowl shaped back options are rosewood, lacewood, or a variegated mix of both. The scale length is 26.25" (667mm).

The Bouzouki dates back to Byzantine times, and in Greece, was known as a pandura. It later became known as a tambouras, and around the 19th century evolved into the modern day bouzouki. In the 1960's, the Irish Bouzouki became popular in traditional Celtic music. The Irish Bouzouki looks a little more like a mandolin, and it is tuned differently than this traditional Greek counterpart.

Special Note: The strings put on the instruments in our workshops, while playable, are put through some rigorous testing. They should probably be replaced for improved playability, sound quality, and better tuning shortly after you receive the instrument. For your convenience we offer Roosebeck Bouzouki Strings, and you can order them here.